Tippler apparatus



March 11, 1958 HATSUJflRO FUJlSHIGE TIPPLER APPARATUS I 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed. July 21 1955 INVENTOR. Haiku 2'" FUJlSH/GE ATTORNEY.

MzifcR11Q1958 7 HATSUJIRO FUJISHIGE TIPPLER [APPARATUS Filed July 21, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 INVENTOR.

Hniuo/z rl, FLIJliH/-E v ATTQRNEY.

March 11', 1958 HATSUJIRO FUJISHIGE v2,326,315 TIPPLERJ APPARATUS Filed July 21, 1955 s Sheets-She et 5 MENTOR.

Hume/ Fu J/sHwE BY W2.

' I ATTORN United States Patent TIPPLER APPARATUS HatsujirmFnjishige,Onoda Gity, Japan Anglieatioululy 21,j195l5,,Serial,No. 523,508

7 Claiins.' 313 214'-52) "Elie; n ieaent t invention. relates, to: a tipplerapparatus.

object of, the. presenn invention is? toproyide an automatiew tippler, apparatus, in, which; the, construction is simple and the handling made easy;,,

Another, object. 0t, the present invention is to provide atinnlenapparatus in which thecoaltcontainediwithinr a set of tubs, is dumped under. pulli of a, winding: rope without necessitating any special additional appliances and, the, handling of; the empty, tubs is; Performed moothln A, further object of; the presentinvention is to; provide, a, tippler,1 apparatus in" which,- driving, of; a; winch from, which.,=one. endofthe ropeextends around and Over a pulley, and: is: fastened, to; one settof, tubs, will causenrlotationt for. discharging; coal in eachi tub. set-1 held ii1., po.siti0n on. the: rail,- within a'rotatory v framed. structure, will; provideereturnl motion of: the said, framed structure; and, wherein; the; handlingnoia empty: tubs; by winding, out said: rope and. other operations: are: all effected automatically Qther objects; features; and; advantages; Qfi. the present invention will; be: apparent. from the: following description,

In the; known; types; of: tipplers; .a: set; of coal tubs; or coal} cars arefed horizon-tally; into, theitippler. by means eta-pushe heldxinrpositiontbgsome; brakingndevice and thentippedto discharge the:o.oal;therein. Further, the empty; tubs: have; to-= be: shifted? transversely out of the W y; Oil the following; set of: tubs; Thus, in sucha tippler nott only additional: appliances: are needed but a soi'there, isaa:disadvantagezinsthat some-:tu'hs; coupled p,i1t.s;:i might: becomeatdisengaged.

The; present: invention: lSnCOnCBIIld" withan 1 improved tipplen ortipplerrapparatusiin which the defects; as-above described:asmoccurringain the tipplers heretofore in use; are eliminated. The tipplerzontippler apparatus according, to.;the.a present invention: comprises a rotary framing on a; rotary framed' structure with-its topopen. Both sidewalls oft the framing: are-=formed of steel plates-- secured to framememb'ers or'to a portionof suchframe members and a rail for coal tuhs is" laid a-t-thebottom of said framed structure: Therotary framing or framed struoture-is=positionedabove a coal bin or stacking yard with a desired longitudinal inclination, and to the outside of thefrarned structure; are respectivelysecured, at a proper spaced distance, frame-supportingrings having respectively a peripheral-protrusion and-sprocketrings formed respectively with" sprockets or wave-shapedteeth along the whole or a part of the groove on its periphery for engaging with links of a chain. The supporting rings-are preferably secured-at-the ends ofthe framing or the framed structure and, the sprocket rings are secured at equal spacings between; these supporting rings,

each of t which rotatably rests at its; bottom on two grooved rollers, one for each side, ,and' are held respectively imposition by a pair of corresponding stops. An endless chain is passed aroundthe wave-shaped teeth 2 on sprockets-of, each ofwsaid sprocketringsand around eachof the small sprocket wheels mounted on the axle of a driving electric"motor. The inclination orangle at which said rotany framing or framed structureama-y he, set may, .be.-*betwenn the minimum of; about two/degrees and. the. maximum of about twenty." degrees, preferably at aboutptwo or: three degrees for the normal condition;v

'QOfllutllbSj are pulled up; insets each consisting; of several;,.sag;, six tubsrconpled: together, into "the: rotary framing cby winding;upraerope over a: pulleyjby, means of. a winch.v Thezarotarytframingtis'then: rotated,,.-with the tub. set heldi therein; unden. pullrofjsaidrope;, for a: proper: anglepforr example; of" abouti to l'fitl 'de greesg, dependingzupon the? qualitiesnsizes and?! the. like of: the: coalrto; discharged: The: framing; is: kept: in this: tiltedipositronufor;"a :moment;.say; twozor three. sec: ends; and: subsequently restored to :its: originali posh tionabyrreversingz the driving 'ofzxthez chain; whereupon the: rope: is: l'et-uout; allowing the: empty-tubs? to" descend onto: ,aa siding. all: thesev operations being? reflectedautomatically.. Accordingly,- ltTlSTPOSSib'le" in" thisutipp lerto handle 'coal tuhscvcry effectively and accurately with simple operation;- and also to dischargethe coal automatically'out come-tubs; without necessitating any spe= cial additional appliances; Also; -in the' tippl'er accord ing to' the; present invention, each rotaryframing is: car'- ried rotata-hly' att its-supporting ringupon rollers-on both sides with a suitable inclination, 'so-jthat a downs ward forcedue to-gravity alongsthestirffieeofifierail ing, is always-actingg'on the tub'set held inlpositi'on' on the rail in saidffamedstr-uo'thre by -the"- rope, tliushoth the rope itself and the? couplings between tubsc'lie'ing keptrig-id The tension serves to keep the aforesaid coupling-s engaged throughout, even when the-framed structure isturnedto roll the-tubs" over; and to' cause the-coal to be dumped underpull of"tlierope,gso-tliat theempty tubsare' handled smoothly;

In'order' that theinv'ention may'b'e'mo'rewlearly un= derstoodreference will now be made" to the" accompany; ing drawings which show byway of example aflpre= ferrecr embodiment thereofi In thedrawi'ngsz' Fig; 1'- is a side" view'off' atipplr apparatus"- accord ing to thepresentinventi'on;

Fig; 2is a plan'viewthereoff Fig. 3' is" a. plan; viewthereof showinggth'e' way in which coal tubs'are shunted;

Fig; 4" is an enlarged'verticalsectionalviewfsliowiirg the main.part of a rotary, frametllstructure oftheitipg p'ler' apparatus, according to the invention with. one of its side walls removed; r

Fig, 5 is airagrnentary plan view ofa d'etailo'fj tlietip-i pler on an enlarged'scaleg Fig, 6"is.atperspectiveviwr of'a partof the rotary framed structure and Eig,,7 is,a verticalcross sectionalview of the tipplr' taken on the line VII-VII" ofFi'g. 51-

Referringto' the drawingg a rotary ffaming or rotary; framed structure A comprisesa. fr'amedi structure arranged above a coaltbin or' stacking yard at a suitable longitudinalinclination"or'slope of, for eXample', 2"or,3 degrees: Both: side: walls ofthe framed structure. are formedi'of'steelplates;1*secured'to. ffame members Zor a structure;of"such frame: membersl. Oh the outside of" the: rotary framing or the. framed structure; are, at proper" intervals; attached" supporting, rings 4 having ,re-. spectively; a, peripheral protrusionv 3 and sprocket rings 6' formed respectively with wave-shaped. teeth. or sprockets SaIong the whole or a part of the groom: provided on its periphery}? Each of" the saidsupporting rings rests rotatably, at its bottom, on two grooved rollers 7--7, one for each side, and is held longitudinally in position by a pair of stops 26 provided respectively adjacent the lowest central portion of the supporting ring 4 in such a manner that these stops embrace respectively the said lowest central portion and retain the framed structure A in longitudinal position. Each of said sprocket rings 6 are carried, at its bottom, on two grooved rollers 27, one for each side. An endless chain 10 is respectively passed round the wave-shaped teeth or the sprocket 5 of the sprocket rings 6 and around a small sprocket wheel 9 mounted on the extension of the axle of a driving electric motor 8, whereby said sprocket rings 6 rotate, freely clockwise or counterclockwise. In the circuit of said electric motor 8, are inserted a starting switch 11 and a limit switch 12. The limit switch 12 initiates operation of the motor 8 with the tubs in position in the rotary framing and may be responsive, in known manner, to some physical action such as the operation of the winch 15 hereinafter described. Coal tubs are drawn up on a main rail 13 laid at an inclination of about three degrees in sets, each consisting of several, for example, six tubs. A rope 14 connected at one end to the front end of the foremost tub is secured at the other end round a winch 16, passing over a pulley 15. In the circuit of another electric motor 17 for said winch 16 are inserted an operating button switch 18 and a limit switch 20. The limit switch 20 may also be responsive to winch 15 in known manner. When after connecting the lower end of the rope 14 to the foremost tub (B) on the main rail 13, the winch 16 is operated by closing the hand switch 18, and thereby the set of tubs is pulled up into position on a rail 19 laid at the bottom of the rotatory framing (A), the winch operates automatically by means of the automatic switch 20. At the same time the starting switch 11 is closed to start the driving motor 8, whereby the sprocket wheels 9 are respectively driven to rotate the rotatory framed structure (A) through the chain by, say, 180 degrees, said framing or framed structure being kept in that angular position for a few seconds so that the coal in the tubs can be discharged completely. Therefore, at the moment the framing is caused to returned to its original position by being turned in the opposite direction, the limit switch 20 acts to drive the winch 16 in reverse so that the rope 14 is let out, allowing the empty tubs to descend over the self-acting said switches 21 onto a siding 22. The lower end of the rope 16 is then transferred from the set of empty tubs to the following set of full ones on the main rail 13 and, thus the aforesaid operations may be repeated. Immediately below the central part of the rotary framing (A) is provided a coal bin 23. In front of and behind the bin are arranged a hopper 24 and a conveyor 25 which is below the front as well as rear part of the rotatory framing, so that all the coal discharged from tubs may be gathered in the coal bin 23.

According to this invention, the tubs are hauled up in sets by the winch into the rotary framing rotatably supported with a predetermined inclination, and they are rolled over under pull of the rope so that any securing device for the tubs can be dispensed with, avoiding trouble of setting or engaging the devices. In addition, the present invention has also an advantage in that not only safe and quick operation but wholly automatic handling of the coal tubs is obtained.

Further, according to this invention, an endless chain 10 passes, as described above, around the sprocket 5 or the wave-shaped teeth of the sprocket ring 6, of large diameter, secured to the outside of the rotatory framing A and around the sprocket wheel 9, of small diameter mounted on the axle of the driving electric motor, so that the velocity of revolution of the motor is properly reduced through the smaller sprocket wheel 9 and the rotatory framed structure A can be freely turned either clockwise or counterclockwise. Further, according to this invention, when the rotary framing is stationary, that is, in the normal position, the chain 10 sags, in the lower portion thereof as shown in Fig. 7. In turning of the rotary framing together with the tubs inside, the lower portion of the chain 10 is tightened up so that the chain runs lightly whereby the rotary framing is allowed to turn or return smoothly. Accordingly, the starting of the rotary framing is simple and there is no fear of breaking the chain or overloading the electric motor. When the rotary framing goes around to roll the tubs over, the shock due to the rolling over of the tubs is relieved by tightening of the sagging in the upper portion of the chain. When returning the rotary framing after the tubs therein have been emptied, the electric motor runs lightly at first until the sagging part of the chain or its upper portion tightens up, and the resistance of the framing comes to act on the motor through the chain. Thus, according to the invention, an easy and accurate operation is always effected, insuring smooth starting and returning motion of the rotary framing with no extraordinary load falling on the chain and without any motor trouble arising.

Further, the tippler according to the present invention may be applied to the mineral ores and the like in a same manner as above described.

What I claim is:

1. A tippler system, for unloading tubs movably supported by wheels upon rails, comprising an inclined rail section for guiding said tubs, a rail extension independent from said inclined rail section but normally continuing therefrom, a rotary element supporting said rail extension and adapted to rotate about an axis parallel to said inclined section to swing said rail extension in a circular path about the axis, a bin positioned beneath said rotary element, a winch for pulling a plurality of tubs up said inclined rail section onto said rail extension an electric motor powering said winch, first means for initiating the operation of said motor and for terminating the operation thereof with a plurality of tubs positioned on said rail extension, and second means for rotating said rotary element whereby the contents of said plurality of tubs is emptied into said bin; said rotary element comprising spaced circular and coaxial members, a framework rigidly afiixed between said spaced members and supporting said rail extension, a peripheral protrusion on one of said spaced members, spaced grooved rollers engaging said protrusion for the rotation of the associated member about said axis, teeth spaced about the periphery of the other of said spaced members, spaced grooved rollers for accommodating said teeth for the rotation of the associated member about said axis, a chain coupled between said second means and said teeth for the rotation of said rotary element, and anti-thrust rollers for preventing axial displacement of said rotary element.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first means comprises a manual switch for initiating the operation of said motor and a limit switch for terminating the operation of said motor with the plurality of tubs in position on said rail extension.

3. A system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said limit switch is responsive to said winch for terminating the operation of said motor.

4. A system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said second means comprises a motor for driving said chain and a limit switch for initiating the operation of said motor with said plurality of tubs in position on said rail extension.

5. A system as claimed in claim 4 wherein said inclined rail section is inclined between two and three degrees.

6. A system as claimed in claim 5 comprising a side track and a self-operating switch for switching emptied tubs onto said side track.

7. A system isclaimed in claim 6 wherein the chain between said second means and said teeth is an endless chain one branch of which is loosely connected between 1,566,506 said second means and said teeth. 1,685,203 2,226,068

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 4,534 1,325,536 Ramsay Dec. 23, 1919 171,296 1,555,077 Ramsay 2 Sept. 29, 1925 612,160

6 Reese et a1 Dec. 22, 1925 Ramsay Sept. 25, 1928 Mosley et a1. Dec. 24, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Mar. 13, 1891 Great Britain Nov. 17, 1921 Great Britain Nov. 9, 1948 

